GRAND START

Contrary to the reviews of many the Amtrak train The Southwest Chief left town on time, with all our bags onboard safely in a luggage stow and not with us in our dear little roomette. Little being the operative word.  We expected nothing less.
Off on what Marlo call "an aventure", with only an hour at the most of daylight we sojourn in the lounge car viewing the industrial back yard of California until the sun sets and dinner is called. After that, bearing in mind we are getting off the train at 4 tomorrow morning I lower the top bunk and climb in. Surprisingly comfortable and that's that until our wake up call. On to the Grand Depot hotel for breakfast -2 1/2 hours away and nothing to see or so before it. No urn, no biscuit, just comfortable chairs in the lobby.
Breakfast, a wild west show and another train ... the Grand Canyon Railway travels at a leiaurely pace through prairie and forest with plenty of time to get great advice from Christina about waht to expect at the Canyon and a bit of a singalong with Cody. Straight off the train, quick lunch and we are on a bus tour along the rim. NOTHING PREPARES YOU FOR YOUR FIRST VIEW OF THE CANYON. WOW. Pictures do not do it justice, but I take plenty anyway. A highlight of the tour is seeing boats on the river at one lookout and catching them at the next in time to see them run some rapids.
Everyone thinks Grand Canyon think mules. Well think ahead as they are booked out months in advance. Fortunately we were never intending to do that trip.  We do take advantage of one of the free talks and now know just how good the Grand Canyon will be when the world as we know it ceases to exist. Ranger Luke has led us there. It will be hard to leave now.
I can't believe that I am planning another 4am start, will we never sleep in again?  Though getting up at a more normal time may hardly be considered sleeping in by many I do look forward to it.  Hilariously we are the only two takers on the sunrise tour, and sure we could have taken the free shuttle to the lookout but then we wouldn't have had Mark to entertain us.  Nor the delight of being able to sit in any of the 45 seats aboard our luxury coach. Front seats so we can see things and Mark needs no microphone.  Great fun.
Back with Ranger Luke for a little history walk this morning, Ranger Sarah this afternoon greatlyninformative about the Californian Condor. Sadly no sightings yet. Wifi could donwith some improvement, particularly as I seem to have no data coverage, but them's the breaks. Shortlived problem.
BEST thing here is no water is sold in bottles. Hop hip hooray. They sell reusable water bottles and provide plenty of filling stations.  Surprise surprise they had trouble with people tossing them into the canyon. Who'd have thought it possible?
Weather here is fabulous, views divine, food so far not so hot but good ice cream in the soda fountain. Off in search of an improvement this evening.